MX23RW : Friday, April 26 16:10:24| >> :60:3391:3391:

Championship preview: Key manager quotes ahead of midweek fixtures

Championship preview: Key manager quotes ahead of midweek fixtures
© Reuters
Forest host Hull at the City Ground on Wednesday.

Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi dismissed any transfer speculation and insisted he is only focused on the present.

Forest host Hull on Wednesday aiming to keep touch with the pacesetters at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.

They suffered their first league defeat since the opening day after going down 1-0 at Wigan on Sunday.

Lamouchi rested Lewis Grabban, bringing in Rafa Mir, and has been linked with Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle but said he is only looking at Hull.

He told a press conference: "I am just looking at the Hull game. January, for me, is too far.

"Maybe you can make some speculation for some players – some striker, winger, box-to-box, right or left-back, goalkeeper. But for me, I am just focused on my players and my squad."

Fellow play-off hopefuls Fulham welcome Luton to Craven Cottage following their surprise 2-0 defeat at Stoke at the weekend.

The Cottagers have stuttered since their good start, winning just two of their last nine outings.

In contrast, Huddersfield are unbeaten in their last four games as Danny Cowley begins to turn the Terriers' season around.

They host struggling Middlesbrough, who have won just one of their last eight games.

"We're really pleased to be four unbeaten because that was the challenge to the players going into the Blackburn game," Cowley told the Huddersfield Examiner.

Bristol City face fellow play-off contenders Charlton at Ashton Gate with boss Lee Johnson hoping new striker Rodri can be this season's Teemu Pukki.

Forward Pukki scored 29 goals to fire Norwich to the title last term having been offered around the Championship.

Rodri joined on a free after leaving Granada and made his debut in the 3-0 defeat at Luton.

Johnson told the Bristol Post: "You've only got to look at the likes of Pukki, for example, who was literally sent in to every Championship side via, I'll show you, about 100 e-mails.

"Obviously he came in and Norwich took a chance on him and he's done unbelievably well for Norwich.

"Options are limited when it comes to that out-of-contract market, particularly as it goes on six to eight weeks beyond the window closing.

"We felt that something we wanted to look at was the type of player – a finisher, a poacher, a fox-in-the-box – and he came into that category."

Derby are aiming to hit back after their 3-0 defeat at Charlton on Saturday when they host Wigan.

The Rams are marooned in mid-table and centre-back Krystian Bielik offered no defence for their surrender at The Valley and wants to prove it was a one off.

"I don't want to try and defend myself or my team-mates, but sometimes it is not your day and they were switched on," he told Rams TV.

"We will try to forget this game now and try to focus on the next games. Wigan is a good opportunity to play at home and show our fans that it was just not our day."

ID:375855: cacheID:375855:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4370:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
James Maddison scores an equaliser for Leicester City on December 5, 2018
Read Next:
News Extra: Maddison tipped for Liverpool, 'No quick fix' for United, Everton 'consider Ten Hag'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!